Superstructure for electrolytic cells



Nov. 12, 1968 D. DUCLAUX ETAL 3,410,786 4 SUPERSTHUCTUFVE FOR ELECTROLYTIC CELLS Filed April 8, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 200 318 316 312 m I l I I In) Q n m Q) m m I an m f 314 31s Q a, v U 341 v 104/ Mm 3&1

m as:

FIG. I

INVENTORS DAM/EL DucL/IUX, dam-Mir wupz/wi,

BY P019507 Jena/Er Nov. 12, 1968 i D. DUCLAUX ETAL 3,410,736

SUPERSTR UCTURE FOR ELECTROLYTIC CELLS Filed April 8, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

FIG. 3

Nov. 12, 1968 D. DUCLAUX ETAL SUPERSTRUCTURE FOR ELECTROLYTIC CELLS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed @pril 8, 1965 FIG. 4

D. DUCLAUX ETAL 3,410,786

Nov. 12, 1968 SUPERSTRUCTURE FOR ELECTROLYTIC CELLS 5 Sheets-She et 4 Filed April 8, 1966 FIG. 6

1968 D. DUCLAUX ETAL SUPERSTRUCTURE FOR ELECTROLYTIC CELLS- 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 8, 1966 FIG.?

United States Patent 11 Claims. in. 204-297 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a superstructure intended for use in connection with cells employed for the manufacture of aluminum by electrolysis and it relates more particularly to the method for the construction and operation of same.

Numerous types of superstructures have been proposed for use with igneous electrolysis cells. For the most part, superstructures of the type heretofore produced have been subject to a common defect in that it is only with difficulty that they can be adapted to accommodate deformations occurring in the tank during use.

In the majority of cases, such superstructures are positioned directly on the fioor of the workshop so that any deformations occurring in the tank operate to modify the relative positions between the anode and the cathode. In other cases where the superstructure is mounted directly on the tank, it becomes subject to dangerous stresses when tank deformations become excessive. In addition, the horizontal relationship of the anodic system is disturbed.

It is an object of this invention to produce and to provide a method for producing a superstructure for igneous electrolytic cells in which the superstructure is positioned directly on the tank, in which dangerous stresses and/or a harmful effect on the horizontal relationship of the anodic system will not result in the event of deformation of the tank, and in which stresses are maintained to a minimum while the superstructure retains its ability for support of the anodes.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, an embodiment of the ininvention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a superstructure embodying the features of this invention in use with an aluminum cell employing prebaked anodes;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a superstructure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic elevational view 1n WhlCh the right side is taken along the line a-a of FIG. 2 and in which the left side is an elevational view of the superstructure of FIG. 2; I

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the iine b-b of FIG. 2 with the cross member in raised position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line c-c of FIG. 6 showing the means for suspending the fixed girder in one of the posts;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view in which the left hand side is taken along the line d-d of FIG. 5 and in which the right hand side is taken along the line e-e of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a post shown 1n support of the fixed girder.

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The superstructure embodying features of this invention comprises: at least two posts, each of which is fixed on the tank by means of an articulated or pivotal joint and a mechanically insulated joint;

a fixed girder supported on the posts including a height adjusting mechanism, such as a bolt and nut assembly in which one is mounted for relative turning movement to the other;

a movable cross member suspended from the fixed girder by means of a mechanism to effect vertical adjustment of the cross member; and

connecting elements which are fixed to the cross member and adapted for use in connecting the cross members with the rods forming a part of the anodic system.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection between the girder and one of the posts is in the form of a housing with the fixed girder being articulated on the other posts.

Referring now to the drawings, the superstructure comprises at least two posts or, as in the embodiment illustrated, four posts 101, 102, 103 and 104, in which the posts are positioned and articulated or pivoted at their lower ends on the tank 10 of the cell 1. A fixed girder 200 extends crosswise between the upper ends of the posts and a cross member 300 is suspended from the fixed girder and mounted for movement vertically relative to the fixed girder as by means of a jack 310.

In the construction illustrated in the drawings, the fixed girder is formed of two I-sections 201 and 202 (see FIG. 4), which are interconnected at their upper end by three section members 203, 204 and 205 (FIG. 2 or 3) and strongly braced at the bottom by transverse angle irons 206 and oblique angle irons 207 (FIG. 2).

Formed in the lower plane are openings 211, 212, 213 and 214 respectively dimensioned to receive the posts and formed by an angle iron frame. Thus the transverse angle members 205 and 206 and the smaller longitudinal angle members 217 and 218 form the framing of the openings 211 and 212 with the I-section bars which may be reinforced, if necessary, by means of an angle member. The angle members 219 and 220, on the one hand, and 221 and 222 on the other hand, enclose the openings 213 and 214. Extending through each of the frames is a pin 223 and 224 (FIG. 6) which extends into the post through an opening 225 and 226 formed in the web of the two welded U-section members which form the post. The upper part of each post is closed by a flat plate 231, 232, 233 and 234 respectively provided with an opening through which an elongate bolt 235 extends into threaded engagement with a nut 237 contained within a housing 236 (FIG. 5). This housing 236 can be displaced vertically upwardly or downwardly responsive to turning movement of the bolt in one direction or the other. The housing is fixed to a support 238 through which the pin 234 extends. Thus the girder 200' can be very accurately positioned at the correct height and adjusted to the desired horizontal position by eifecting vertical adjustment of the housing in response to turning movement of the bolts 235. One of the posts, such as the post 103, has a supplementary girder means formed by a two-pronged fork 230 which fits around three faces of the post, thus insuring the housing of the post at the selected height. In the case where more than two posts are employed, the posts are connected in pairs at each end of the cell and at their lower end portion, as by cross pieces 105 and 106 (FIG. 3).

Each post is positioned on the tank by means of a pivot or articulated joint 110 (FIG. 7). The deformations of the tank are therefore no longer transmitted to the superstructure. Once the girder 200 is in position, the girder is capable of maintaining its horizontal relationship independently of any deformations. Each post, such as post 103, carries the first element 111 of the articulated joint, such as a plate fixed to the lower end of the post. The second element 112 of said joint is carried by the tank to which it is secured by means of bolts 114, each of which is insulated by insulating sleeve 115 and a nut 116. An insulating plate 117 is interposed between the support 11, which is fast with the tank, and the second element 112 of the articulated joint. Insulating washers are interposed, one of said washers 118 being located between the head of the bolt 114 and the second element 112, while the other washer 115 is located between the support 11 and the nut 116. The pin 113 pivotally interconnects the two elements 111 and 112. The insulating plate 117, the sleeve 115 and the washers 118 and 119 form an insulating joint which enables the superstructure assembly to be brought to a positive electrical potential with re spect to the tank. When only two posts are employed, it is expedient to provide two perpendicular pivot pins.

The cross member 300 is suspended from the fixed girder from at least two laterally spaced apart points. Means are provided for vertical adjustment of the cross member 300 relative its support. For this purpose, use is made of a system of rods adapted to be actuated by means of a single jack 310. The jack is pivoted at one end on the fixed girder 200 while the other end is pivoted at a point 312 on a lever plate 311 which is pivoted for rocking movement about a pin 313 fast with the fixed girder. An elongate rod 315 is pivoted at one end at the point 314 on the lever at a point offset from the pivot while the other end is pivoted onto the cross member 300. A second lever plate 317 is mounted for rocking movement about another pivot pin 319 spaced laterally from the pivot 313. The levers 311 and 317 are interconnected for concurrent rocking movement about their respective pivots by means of a rod 316 pivoted at one end on a pin 318 offset from the pivot 319 of the lever 317 while the other end is pivoted on a pin on an offset portion of the lever 311. A rod 321 is pivoted at one end onto an offset portion of the lever 317 and at the other end onto the cross member 300. The described lever and rod system can be duplicated, each system acting on one of the two section members which, as heretofore described, form the cross member.

The described arrangement enables the cross member to be actuated by means of a single jack or fluid cylinder whereby a parallel relationship can be maintained between the movablecross member and the fixed girder. The path of the point of suspension of the cross member 300 is not a straight vertical line but an arc of a circle, the difference being that this are and its cord is so small that the guiding arrangement is subjected to only insignificant horizontal forces. The rods are preferably mounted for swiveling movement so as to be able to be subjected to lateral forces without distortion.

The guiding arrangement comprises a plurality of guide rods 331 fixed to the cross member and arranged to extend through openings 333 formed in the fiat members 332 secured to the fixed girder 200. FIGS. 2 and 3 represent a guiding arrangement positioned outwardly of the cross members and comprising rods 331 and flat mem bers 332. This arrangement opposes rotational movement of the cross members relative to a vertical axis having the center of the tank as its center as when an angle shaped anode is engaged. In addition, it permits the absorption of forces resulting from the vertical displacement of the cross members which otherwise would be moved along an arc of a circle. It transfers the corresponding forces to the strongly braced lower plane of the girder.

The cross member itself is formed of two section members 301 and 302 interconnected by two internal cross bars 331 which are opposite the guide rods and assembled with the section members by the bolts used for assembling the guiding arrangement. The two section members are made of metal such as aluminum or steel lined on the outer face with a sheet of aluminum. Each carries the connecting elements, such as 341, which permit the rods 351 of the prebaked anodes 352, or the pins of the soderberg anode, to be fixed to the cross member. The positive flexible conductors, generally called foils, are connected to the cross members.

It will be understood that each of the means which have been described can be substituted in whole or in part by equivalent means. For example, use can be made of cable or chain winches or a number of synchronized jacks instead of the single jack and the rod system described for effecting vertical movement of the cross member.

While th invention is described with respect to the superstructure adapted for use with a cell employing prebaked anodes, it will be understood that the invention may be adapted to a cell with a Soderberg anode in which the vertical pins serve the part of the anode rods 351.

It will be understood that other changes may be made in the details of construction, operation and arrangement without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. An electrolytic cell superstructure comprising at least two vertically disposed posts laterally spaced apart by an amount corresponding to the width of the cell, means pivotally interconnecting the posts at their lower ends onto the top side of the cell walls, a girder extending crosswise between the upper end portions of the posts and operatively connected thereto, a cross member suspended from the girder and means for vertical displacement of the cross member relative to the girder and connecting means on the cross member to which cell rods can be connected.

2. A superstructure as claimed in claim 1 which includes adjustment means operatively connecting one end of the girder with a post for displacement of the girder vertically relative to said post.

3. A superstructure as claimed in claim 1 in which the girder is secured to the post by means of a pair of articulated joints having axes which are perpendicular.

4. A superstructure as claimed in claim 1 which includes electricaly insulating means between the lower ends of the posts and the cell wall to insulate the posts from the cell wall.

5. A superstructure as claimed in claim 2 in which the adjustment means for vertical displacement of the girder relative the post comprises a nut means connected to the end of the girder and bolt means in threaded engagement with the nut means and secured to the post for turning movement.

6. A superstructure as claimed in claim 1 in which the cross member is suspended from the girder in at least two laterally spaced apart points.

7. A superstructure as claimed in claim 1 in which the cross member is suspended from the girder by at least two laterally spaced apart rods pivoted at one end to the girder and at the other end to the cross member.

8. A superstructure as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for vertical displacement of the cross member relative to the girder comprises a pair of laterally spaced apart lever plates pivoted onto the girder, one rod for each lever plate pivoted at one end onto a portion of the lever plate offset from the pivot and at the other end onto the cross member, an elongate rod extending crosswise between the lever plates and pivoted at its ends onto portions of each of the lever plates offset from their pivots for effecting concurrent rocking movement of the lever plates about their pivots and means for rocking one of the lever plates about its pivot.

9. A superstructure as claimed in claim 5 in which only one end of the girder is pivotally mounted on the post for vertical adjustment and in which the connection between the girder and the other post comprises a housing.

10. A superstructure as claimed in claim 1 which includes guide means on the cross member for guiding the cross member in vertical movement relative to the girder.

11. A superstructure as claimed in claim 10 in which the guide means comprises vertical guide rods connected to one of the elements including the girder and cross member and outwardly extending plates secured to the other member and which plates have openings in registry with the rods and through which the rods extend in guiding relationship.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS JOHN H. MACK, Primary Examiner.

D. ROBERT IORDAN, Assistant Examiner. 

